At a press conference Wednesday, Adept Technology (Booth 4228) launched a new class of courier transports featuring Adept’s natural feature navigation. According to Rush LaSelle, VP of mobile robots, the couriers use a series of vertical and horizontal lasers to “see” their environment and adapt in real time.

LaSelle said the random in, random out (RIRO) architecture is also designed for optimal safety in peopled environments, where minimal training is needed.

The intelligent units can be completely deployed and productive in an unfamiliar facility within one morning, said LaSelle, who said this feature absorbs much of the system engineering costs associated with traditional automatic guided vehicles (AGVs).

“Conveyors are like railroads with fixed paths, AGVs are like buses with fixed routes, and our courier units are like cabs, taking the most direct route from point A to point B, and even detouring around obstacles in real time,” said LaSelle.

Modex 2012 is scheduled to be held February 6-9, 2012 in Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete Modex 2012 coverage.

March 19, 2012

About the Author

Josh Bond, Senior Editor

Josh Bond is Senior Editor for Modern, and was formerly Modern’s lift truck columnist and associate editor. He has a degree in Journalism from Keene State College and has studied business management at Franklin Pierce University.

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